# Lakshmi Manchu

Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna (born 8 October 1977) is an Indian actress, film producer, and television presenter who works in Telugu cinema and worked in American television. The daughter of senior actor Mohan Babu, Manchu holds a bachelor's degree in theatre from Oklahoma City University. She has garnered two Filmfare Awards South and two Nandi Awards.
Manchu made her acting debut with the American television series Las Vegas, where she played the minor role of Sarasvati Kumar, the love interest of James Lesure. She then appeared in one episode of each of the following series: Desperate Housewives, Late Nights with my Lover, and Mystery ER. She has also appeared in commercials for Toyota, AARP, and Chevrolet.
In 2006, she directed, produced, and acted in Perfect Lives, a short film that was showcased at the Wilshire Fine Arts Theater as part of the La Femme Film Festival in Los Angeles. She made her theatre debut as Miss Trunchbull in the adaptation of Roald Dahl's Matilda, directed by Taher Ali Baig, in 2016.

## Early life and family

Lakshmi Manchu is the only daughter of actor Mohan Babu and Vidya Devi. She has a younger brother, Vishnu Manchu, and a younger paternal half-brother, Manoj Manchu. She was born in Chennai.
Manchu married Andy Srinivasan, an IT professional from Chennai, in 2006. The couple has a daughter born through surrogacy. They settled in Hyderabad for a few years before moving to Mumbai.

## Career

Having started her career at the age of 4, Manchu has been in 20 feature films in India and a few minor television roles in the U.S. She co-owns Sree Lakshmi Prasanna Pictures along with her family members, a production company that has produced fifty-six feature films to date.
In December 2011, she was signed on to portray a supporting role in Mani Ratnam's Tamil film Kadal after a successful audition. Portraying the role of Celina, a poor village woman, she expected this film to be her breakthrough but hardly got offers in Tamil after the film's release.

## Filmography
### Film
#### Acting roles

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
| 2008 | The Ode | Najma | English | |
| 2009 | Dead Air | Gabbi | English | |
| 2009 | Thank You for Washing | Phoebe | English | Short film |
| 2010 | Jhummandi Naadam | Narrator | Telugu | Guest appearance |
| 2011 | Anaganaga O Dheerudu | Irendri | Telugu | |
| 2011 | Dongala Mutha | Shiva | Telugu | |
| 2012 | Department | Satya Bhosle | Hindi | |
| 2012 | Uu Kodathara? Ulikki Padathara? | Amrutha Valli | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Kadal | Celina | Tamil | |
| 2013 | Gundello Godari | Chitra | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Doosukeltha | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance |
| 2014 | Chandamama Kathalu | Lisa Smith | Telugu | |
| 2014 | A day in the life of Lakshmi Manchu's feet | Herself | Sound | Short film |
| 2015 | Budugu | Pooja | Telugu | |
| 2015 | Dongaata | Shruti | Telugu | Also singer for "Yendiro Yendiro" |
| 2015 | Size Zero | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance |
| 2015 | Inji Iduppazhagi | Herself | Tamil | Special appearance |
| 2016 | Guntur Talkies | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance |
| 2017 | Basmati Blues | Sita | English | |
| 2017 | Lakshmi Bomb | Lakshmi & Priya | Telugu | |
| 2018 | W/O Ram | Deeksha | Telugu | |
| 2018 | Kaatrin Mozhi | Maria | Tamil | |
| 2020 | Maa Vintha Gaadha Vinuma | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance |
| 2021 | Pitta Kathalu | Swaroopakka | Telugu | |
| 2022 | Monster | Durga / Catherine Alexandra | Malayalam | Debut Malayalam film |
| TBA | Adiparvam † | TBA | Telugu | |

#### Producer

| Year | Title |
| 2005 | Sri |
| 2008 | Nenu Meeku Telusa? |
| 2010 | Jhummandi Naadam |
| 2012 | Uu Kodathara? Ulikki Padathara? |
| 2013 | Gundello Godari |
| 2015 | Dongaata |

### Television
#### Acting roles

| Year | Title | Role | Network | Language | Notes |
| 2004–07 | Las Vegas | Sarasvati Kumar | NBC | English | Recurring role (11 episodes) |
| 2006 | Boston Legal | Juror No. 6 | ABC | English | "Shock and Oww!" (season 2: episode 18) |
| 2008 | Mystery ER | Dr. Baker | Discovery Health | English | "Eating Away/A Model's Malady" (season 2: episode 5) |
| 2008 | Desperate Housewives | Nabila | ABC | English | "Kids Ain't Like Everybody Else" (season 5: episode 3) |
| 2019 | Mrs. Subbalakshmi | Mrs. Subbalakshmi | ZEE5 | Telugu | |
| 2024 | Yakshini | Jwalamukhi | Disney+ Hotstar | Telugu | |

#### As a host or judge

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 2008 | Lakshmi Talk Show | Host | Zee Telugu |
| 2011 | Prematho Mee Lakshmi | Host | ETV |
| 2012 | Luck Unte Lakshmi | Host | ETV |
| 2013 | Super Jodi | Judge | |
| 2013 | Doosukeltha | Host | |
| 2016 | Mee Kosam | Host | |
| 2016–2018 | Memusaitham | Host | Gemini TV |
| 2018 | Maharani | Host | Zee Telugu |
| 2021 | Aha Bhojanambu | Host | Aha |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2011 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress – Telugu | Anaganaga O Dheerudu | Nominated |
| 2013 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress – Telugu | Gundello Godari | Won |
| 2014 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress – Telugu | Chandamama Kathalu | Won |
| 2011 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu | Anaganaga O Dheerudu | Won |
| 2013 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Telugu | Gundello Godari | Won |
| 2014 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Telugu | Chandamama Kathalu | Nominated |
| 2015 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress – Telugu | Dongaata | Nominated |
| 2011 | Nandi Awards | Best Villain | Anaganaga O Dheerudu | Won |
| 2014 | Nandi Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Chandamama Kathalu | Won |
| 2011 | CineMAA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Anaganaga O Dheerudu | Won |
| 2011 | Santosham Film Awards | Best Villain | Anaganaga O Dheerudu | Won |
| 2011 | Hyderabad Times Film Awards | Best Actor in a Negative Role - Female | Anaganaga O Dheerudu | Won |
| 2013 | Oklahoma City University | Alumni Hall of Honour Award | — | Won |